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Eid-el-Fitr/COVID-19: FRSC Deploys Massive Personnel, Emphasizes on Inter-Agency Collaboration

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Eid-el-Fitr/COVID-19: FRSC Deploys Massive Personnel, Emphasizes on Inter-Agency Collaboration

Following the imperatives of achieving a crash and hitch free 2020 Sallah celebration, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has approved massive deployment of personnel, directed Commanding Officers to collaborate with COVID-19 Task Force teams and security agencies across the country to ensure maximum compliance with established laws and orders and all directives on physical distancing, compulsory use of face mask and restrictions of movement across states. The special patrol is to commence from 22 May, to 30 May, 2020.

According to Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, the directives of the Corps Marshal was contained in an administrative instruction released to field Commands where the Corps Marshal maintained that massive deployment of personnel to ensure free flow of traffic, prompt removal of obstructions and timely rescue services in the event of any road traffic crash is critical to the realisation of a safe motoring environment during the season and beyond.

The Corps Marshal outlined the modus operandi for a successful 2020 Eid-el-fitri celebration and gave Commanding Officers matching order to enforce without compromise all established laws and orders on safe road use.

While charging them on the need to give maximum effect to Presidential Orders, Oyeyemi revealed that the objectives of the special patrol is to achieve among others, the following;
a. Compliance with protocol and guidelines set up by the various states with respect to COVID-19
b. Ensure that the Presidential Orders on interstate travels and restrictions ate diligently enforced with all sense of professionalism and civility
c. Curtail the occurrence of Road Traffic Crashes within the period and provide prompt rescue services
d. Ensure full deployment of patrol vehicles, ambulances, tow trucks, bikes and other patrol equipment
e. Collaborate with security agencies, ensure effective traffic management, increased visibility on the highways, and strict enforcement of overloading and physical distancing amongst commuter.

He warned that the special patrol was necessitated by the upsurge in traffic volume and the rise in COVID-19 cases Nationwide. The strategies deployed are anchored on achieving a decline in transmission of the virus amongst commuters and the need to mitigate the attendant risks of road traffic crashes.

As such, the Corps Marshal further instructed Commanding Officers to apprehend any vehicle caught in the act of overloading of vehicles in both persons and goods. The offenders are to be tried in already established mobile courts across the federation.

He therefore called on all Nigerians to be at alert, cautious and imbibe all safety ideals before, during and after the celebration.

Malawi’s election boss resigns amid controversies

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Malawi’s election boss resigns amid controversies

Chairperson of Malawi’s electoral body resigned her position in what is the latest twist of an upcoming election rerun in the southern African country.

Jane Ansah’s Malawi Electoral Commission, MEC; suffered credibility crisis earlier this year when a court annulled May 2019 elections that won incumbent Peter Mutharika re-election.

The Constitutional Court ruled that opposition petitioners had proven that there were widespread irregularities in the poll. Her resignation further adds to “the uncertainty in the run up to fresh presidential elections whose date is not clear at the moment,” the privately-owned Nation newspaper said.

She had been the subject of dogged protests by a civil society group, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition that held protests between July 2019 and January 2020 calling for Ansah and other MEC commissioners to resign.

Malawi currently has to sort out the processing of ballots and setting of an election date all within 42 days to the final countdown set by the court to hold fresh polls. The court had ordered that the rerun be held in 150 days of their ruling back in February.

A parliamentary committee had asked the president to fire Ansah and the MEC top brass but Mutharika refused with the reason that he had not seen any grave breach on their parts.

The incumbent went to the Supreme Court to challenge the annulment of the his re-election but was unsuccessful. His veep Saulos Chilima who he unconstitutionally sacked is now running mate to main opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera.

Nigerian troops have killed, fatally injured 762 Boko Haram terrorists, centre says in report

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Nigerian troops have killed, fatally injured 762 Boko Haram terrorists, centre says in report

A report by the Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies (IPCTS) has revealed how the Nigerian military killed and injured over 762 Boko Haram terrorists in the last one month.

According to the report signed by Executive Director, Dr. Samson Bello, the institute attributed the military’s all-new operational strategy for this feat, which is the brainchild of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. T.Y Buratai.

The Army Chief’s relocation to the northeast to lead the final clearance operation has rubbed off on the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

The atmosphere has drastically changed with the troops highly motivated ever than before in the quest to flush out the fleeing terrorists.

After its extensive research work in the northeast, the Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies hailed the COAS for being the catalyst propelling his troops from the front in the last one month.

It disclosed that no fewer than 350 Boko terrorists have lost their lives and nearly 500 suffered life-threatening injuries in the said period.

This situation, IPCTS reckoned, has heightened the tension in the Boko Haram camp and further given the Nigerian troops the edge with sustained military offensives.

With the troops on the cusp of victory, the institute, however, urged that the tempo is sustained as the jihadist might eventually surrender as the odds are well against them.

Read full report below.

Introduction:

The Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies is a Think-Tank that coordinates intellectual activities for the promotion of global peace and prevention of terrorism across the globe. The Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies has been at the vanguard of identifying the operational methods of the Nigerian Military in operation in North East Nigeria since 2009 when the Boko Haram group began a violent campaign in Nigeria.

Consequently, the Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies commissioned a research into the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria for January to April, 2020 and presents the following report.

The Nigerian Military as a State Actor and efforts to keep the peace:

RESCUE OPERATION FOR INNOCENT CITIZENS BEING HELD HOSTAGE:

The Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies identified that the Nigerian Military had been actively involved in rescue operations across the North East involving the rescue of women and children, as well as older people that have been held hostage and used as human shields by the Boko Haram group.

A critical survey revealed that between 2018, 2019, and 2020 the Nigerian Military rescued a total number of 12,500 people from the captivity of Boko Haram in parts of Yobe and Borno State. From the figure, 80% were women and children, and 20% were aged people that needed urgent medical attention.

It was also observed that the Nigerian Military rescue operations were carried out in a fashion that has resulted in minimal casualties. The Nigerian Military also had a medical team that attended to those rescued from captivity before they are released to their various families.

NEUTRALIZATION OF TERRORISTS AND CRIMINAL ELEMENTS:

The Nigerian Military have been actively involved in the war against Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria, and that has seen several casualties from both sides. However, it was observed that the Boko Haram fighters have been at the receiving end of a continuous military onslaught that has led to the neutralization of Boko Haram terrorists, as well as other criminal elements.

The sustained military operations against the Boko Haram group also led to the death of scores of Boko Haram fighters. The Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies identified that over 350 Boko Haram fighters were killed in the past month in North-East Nigeria, and over 500 sustaining life-threatening injuries.

COUNTER-OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN:

It was observed that the counteroffensives by the Nigerian Military had yielded positive results. The casualty figures recorded so far has been on the low compared to previous years where the Nigerian Military recorded heavy casualties from their operations.

The Nigerian troops have been able to sustain the tempo with the introduction of additional counter-terrorism methods, as well as a boost in their military hardware that gave them the edge and with superior firepower over the Boko Haram group.

It was also observed that the operational strategy of the Nigerian Military have indeed placed the Boko Haram fighters on the brink of defeat baring all unforeseen circumstances. As at concluding the research work, it was established that 762 Boko Haram fighters lost their lives in battle with the Nigerian troops led by the Military Chief in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

MOTIVATION:

In the course of the research work, it was observed that the military chief, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has been leading the battle against Boko Haram. The military chief coordinates the day-to-day operations and offensives against the Boko Haram terrorists.

It was also observed that the presence of the military chief, Tukur Buratai has served as a source of motivation to the troops and this has been responsible for the gains recorded by the Nigerian Military in the war against Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria.

The presence of the military chief has continued to serve the purpose of motivation in the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East, Nigeria.

The Non- State Actors (Boko Haram/ISWAP)

Loss of confidence by Shekau and his commanders:

In the course of extensive research in the operations of the Boko Haram/ISWAP, it was identified that the camp of the Boko Haram/ISWAP has been polarized along various lines. There are those opposed to the continued stance of Abubakar Shekau and want a truce with the Nigerian Military. There are also those who see the casualties as a sign that Abubakar Shekau has misled them so far, and there is a need for him to step down from his responsibilities as their supreme leader.

This situation has heightened the tension in the Boko Haram camp and further given the Nigerian troops the edge with sustained military offensives.

FATIGUE IN BATTLE AND LACK OF COHESION:

It was observed that the Boko Haram/ISWAP camp is experiencing fatigue which was occasioned by long hours of battle with the Nigerian Military. The fact that the Nigerian Military boast of more modern and advanced military hardware and tanks puts the Boko Haram fighters in terrible strain and the consequent result has been fatigue in battle and lack of cohesion.

It was gathered that this situation has led to the Boko Haram/ISWAP group splitting into many factions with most of the commanders that hitherto held sway no longer ready to continue.

POOR MANAGEMENT OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND GREED

Our team of researchers was able to gather that the Boko Haram/ISWAP group is having difficulties assessing funds and logistics. The group is struggling with the availability of limited resources at their disposal, and this has put a strain on their operational effectiveness.

There is also uproar amongst Boko Haram members that Abubakar Shekau is mismanaging funds meant for the execution of their offensive against the Nigerian Military as well as their allowances that have remained unpaid for a long time.

It was also gathered that Abubakar Shekau has been soliciting to his fighters not to down their arms in these critical times. However, the various pleas seem not to have been able to pacify the bulk of the fighters that have remained delusional zed daily.

REGIONAL COOPERATION

The Boko Haram crisis has assumed a regional dimension and this lead to the revamping of the Multinational Joint Task Force comprising of troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. This regional collaboration has put the Boko Haram group in a dire situation as most of their routes for receiving logistic supplies have been taken over by troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Nigeria:

The Nigerian government, by all indices the most significant contributor to the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force in terms of funding and troops. This commitment from the Nigerian government has enabled the operational effectiveness of the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Chad:

The contribution of Chad has been felt in recent times. The Chadian authorities on their part were able to secure the borders between Nigeria and Chad as well as the Lake Chad basin region. This action has deprived the Boko Haram group the luxury of launching attacks in Nigeria and retreating to the Islands on the Lake Chad Basin region from where they hitherto regroup and receive logistics supplies from external sources.

Niger:

The Nigerien authorities have shown commitment by deploying thousands of fighting troops to the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force. Nigerien troops have also fortified the borders between Niger and Nigeria from the Lake Chad Basin region.

Cameroon:

The Cameroonian government has also contributed troops and resources towards the success of the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force. Tremendous efforts have been made to secure Boko Haram cells located in the Mandara Mountains where they recruit and train their fighters.

Conclusion:

The Institute for Peace and Counter-Terrorism Studies after extensive scrutiny of the issues in the war against the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists concludes that the operational strategies of the Nigerian Military have proven to be effective in neutralizing the threats posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP group.

We wish to state that if this tempo is sustained, the Boko Haram/ISWAP group might eventually surrender as the odds are against it.

China plans new national security law for Hong Kong

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China plans new national security law for Hong Kong

China will propose a national security law for Hong Kong in response to last year’s often violent pro-democracy protests that plunged the city into its deepest turmoil since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, state news agency Xinhua has said.

The Chinese parliament will discuss the controversial new law at its annual session, Xinhua said, in a move likely to stoke unrest in the semi-autonomous region. The legislation will be introduced at the meeting of the National People’s Congress that opens on Friday.

Xinhua said a preparatory meeting for a Chinese parliament session adopted an agenda that included an item to review a bill “on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security”.

The South China Morning Post newspaper, citing unnamed sources, said the laws would ban secession, foreign interference, “terrorism” and all seditious activities aimed at toppling the central government and any external interference in the former British colony.

Reporting form Beijing, Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu said the legislation signifies Beijing taking “into their own hands” the political unrest in Hong Kong that sparked nearly a year of intermittent protests beginning in June of 2019.

Those protests were initially in response to an extradition bill introduced in Hong Kong’s legislature that would allow Beijing to extradite accused individuals to the mainland to face trial. The bill was stalled and later withdrawn.

“What will happen, as we understand it, [China’s parliament] will make an amendment to the basic law, which is Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, using a legal backdoor which essentially allows it to bypass the usual legislative processes in Hong Kong,” Yu said.

“This is because, as Beijing sees, there’s simply too much opposition from pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong, so they’re going to have to put this in themselves and make this very strong imposition of their power,” she added.

Hong Kong was returned to China from British rule in 1997 under the so-called “one country two systems” arrangement, in which the region maintained some autonomy, including a separate judiciary and more civil liberties for its citizens. The arrangement is set to end in 2047.

Suspect timing

Emily Lau, a leading member of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, told Al Jazeera that residents of Hong Kong are “very concerned, very alarmed, and very disturbed” over fears the new legislation “will take away our freedoms, will take away our personal safety and the rule of law”.

 “Now it seems like [Beijing] is breaking up all the promises and they want to legislate for us,” she said.

Reporting from Hong Kong, Al Jazeera’s Adrian Brown said China’s parliament appeared to be seizing on coronavirus pandemic restrictions in the semi-autonomous region, where gatherings of more than eight people are banned.

“Of course the timing of this is very significant. It may well be that a decision was taken by the leadership in Beijing to push through this legislation now because of course it’s difficult for people to protest in Hong Kong,” he said.

While protests have been smaller since the outbreak began, they have persisted through the pandemic.

On Monday, 15 veteran pro-democracy activists appeared in a Hong Kong court for the beginning of their organising and taking part in last year’s assemblies.

The arrests sparked criticism from the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United Nation’s human rights body, the latter saying non-violent activists should not be prosecuted for attending unsanctioned rallies.

The proposed legislation could be a turning point for China’s freest and most international city, potentially triggering a revision of its special status in Washington and likely to spark more unrest.

Online posts have already emerged urging people to gather to protest on Thursday night and dozens were seen shouting pro-democracy slogans in a shopping mall as riot police stood nearby.

Lagos Health Workers Reverse Stay-At-Home Order

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Lagos Health Workers Reverse Stay-At-Home Order

The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has reversed its stay-at-home order which it imposed from 6 pm on Wednesday (May 20, 2020), following the conflicting order, restricting the movement of essential workers amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Saliu Oseni, and the Secretary of the association, Dr. Moronkola Ramon, the NMA on Thursday said that the decision to reverse the order was necessary after the Nigerian Police Force and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu resolved the issues and assured the safety of all health workers.

“The leadership of the Association has followed the turn of events while monitoring the situation. The Nigerian Police Force has reached out to the association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers.

“This, they have also done in the media. The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu was exemplary as his timely intervention from the late hours of May 19th helped prevent worsening of the situation”.

The NMA has assured its members that no one will be harassed in the course of performing their lawful duties.

“The association has further received assurances from Mr. Governor and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health worker will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic”.

Read Full Statement Below:

PRESS RELEASE OF THE LAGOS STATE BRANCH OF NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TO REVIEW HER SIT AT HOME ORDER DUE TO THE CONTINUED CONFLICTING DIRECTIVES OF GOVERNMENT AND LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENTS ON THE STATUS OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, INCLUDING DOCTORS AND OTHER HEALTH-WORKERS AND THE INCESSANT HARASSMENT OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN LAGOS

The Nigerian Medical association Lagos had given a stay at home order to her members following the continued harassment by the officers and men of the Nigerian police force. The decision was a necessary doctrine of self-preservation as it was unbearable combining the continued threat to life from the officers and men of the police force with the existing daily threat of COVID 19.

The leadership of the Association has followed the turn of events while monitoring the situation. The Nigerian police force has reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers. This, they have also done in the media. The executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu was exemplary as his timely intervention from the late hours of May 19th helped prevent worsening of the situation.

The association has further received assurances from Mr. Governor and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic (see attachments).

Above all, the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos state is difficult to resist considering the fact that they will be most hit by the situation.

Following a holistic consideration of the above development, the Association hereby resolves as follows;

1. The doctors in Lagos State, under the auspices of NMA, has, and takes seriously, a responsibility to partake actively in the fight against Covid-19 and the delivery of quality healthcare to the citizenry for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/ restriction of movement and beyond.

2. That the sit at home order issued on the 19th of May is hereby reversed and our members are hereby directed to resume work from 6 pm today 21st of May 2020 (this affects those on-call duties).

3. That the Lagos state government should ensure clarity at all times, on the exempted status of healthcare and other essential workers for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/restriction of movement.

4. That the Association will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of our hardworking members.

Appreciation
The Association expresses appreciation to Mr. Governor for his timely intervention and continued assurances in ensuring that the health-workers who were held by the police were released immediately and in preventing subsequent recurrence.
We also appreciate the Honourable minister for health Dr. Enahire Osagie and the HCH Lagos state professor Akin Abayomi on their timely interventions.

Dr Saliu Oseni Dr Ramon Moronkola

Chairman. Secretary

Court Grants Bail To Chinese Nationals Accused Of Bribing EFCC

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Court Grants Bail To Chinese Nationals Accused Of Bribing EFCC

A High Court in Sokoto State has granted bail to two Chinese citizens accused of bribing an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Muhammad Saidu Sifawa who is also the Chief Judge of Sokoto State granted the accused person bail on Thursday.

He said the respondents have not been able to dislodge the presumption of innocence of the accused.

The term of the bail demands the accused to submit the sum of N5million each and two surety in like sum, one of which must be resident in Sokoto and have a landed property that has a certificate of occupancy.

He also asked the accused persons to submit their international passport with the Chief Registrar of the court and demanded that they take an undertaking that they would not travel out of the country throughout the duration of the trial.

The suspects were arrested last week for offering the sum of N100million bribe to the Zonal Head of the anti-graft agency in Sokoto State, Mr Abdullahi Lawal.

According to the EFCC, the sum was allegedly offered in a desperate bid to compromise ongoing investigations of a construction company, China Zhonghao Nigeria Limited, which was handling contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government in the sum of N50billion between 2012 to 2019.

The suspects are currently facing trial on counts of conspiracy and bribery.

Amnesty International, Sahara Reporters and the war within

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Amnesty International, Sahara Reporters and the war within

By Anthony Kolawole

The war against terrorism in Nigeria has been a front-burner issue for a while. Social commentators have made postulations with regards to the success recorded so far. At the same time, some have also faulted the modus operandi of the Nigerian Military in the prosecution of the war.

These are indeed interesting times. Nigerians have not seen the worst of the war against terrorism. A critical contributor to the war has been neglected and with the whole emphasis placed on Boko Haram/ISWAP.

Nigerians have also failed to understand that there are various components of warfare and that the physical manifestation is just as an aspect of the overarching strategy just as it is evident in the raging battle between the Nigerian Military and the Boko Haram insurgent group in North-East Nigeria.

In Nigeria today, two things stand out with regard to the war against terrorism: the war and the war within. And this brings me to the activities of Amnesty International and Sahara Reporters and how they have wittingly sustained the perpetuation of terrorism in Nigeria.

Amnesty International is an embodiment of mendacious propaganda against the unity, peace, and progress of Nigeria. Its attacks on Nigeria have been phenomenal. For Amnesty International, nothing good should be heard about Nigeria. As such it’s scathing annual reports on the country follow the same pattern and trajectory year in year out.

The Nigerian Military has been worse hit by the fangs of the self-acclaimed human rights organization in the sense that they have constituted themselves as a distraction in the prosecution of the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria, as well as other parts of the country where the activities of militant groups are prevalent.

It is also a statement of the fact that Amnesty International has been providing that intellectual support to the Boko Haram group in Nigeria. Just when substantial gains are recorded, they accuse the Nigerian Military of human rights violations against Boko Haram. But they turn the other way when the same radical jihadists ransack communities killing unarmed citizens, as well as kidnapping women and children.

For Amnesty International, these are no crimes against humanity, as well as human rights violations because of the strategic partnership it entered to provide that intellectual support to the Boko Haram group. If this is not the case, have we wondered why it is that the group is in the habit of acting as the mouthpiece of terrorist and militant groups in Nigeria?

Have we also wondered why is it that Amnesty International issues statements and press releases in tactic support for the activities of militant groups in Nigeria at the slightest especially when our troops are making gains in the war against terrorism?

I stand to be corrected, the activities of Amnesty International are the real war in Nigeria because its mandate revolves around ensuring that Nigeria is destabilized and disintegrated by all means possible including propagating outright falsehoods and arriving at illogical conclusions. That is not all; it has also been stated that Amnesty International has been recruiting fighters for the depleted ranks of the Boko Haram/ISWAP group.

While this information has not been verified, it is not something I would doubt given the tendencies of Amnesty International and their avid hatred for Nigeria. In my opinion, it is not beyond what Amnesty International can do since for them it’s a business every other thing can go to blazes.

Sahara Reporters, on the other hand, has been despicable in promoting the interest of terrorist groups in Nigeria. As a statement of fact, they have been in cahoots with Amnesty International little wonder why they echo the same sentiments in the public space. The Sahara Reporters platform has provided Amnesty International and other unscrupulous organizations masquerading as human rights advocates a medium to unleash derogatory remarks on the efforts of the Nigerian Military in the war against terrorism as well as the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to the rule of law.

For Sahara Reporters, though, I’m not surprised because its brand of journalism defeats the entire known creed. They concoct stories in return for pecuniary gains not minding the implication of their actions. Sahara Reporters also allied with some despicable groups to heat the polity with false information to set the country up in flames.

It is quite a sad tale that Sahara Reporters has reduced itself to this despicable level where it can conspire with those against the interest of Nigeria. I think it’s time for Nigerians to begin to scrutinize the likes of Amnesty International and Sahara Reporters as it is now evident that their overarching objective is to ensure that Nigeria disintegrates.

This is also of the heels that their support for the Boko Haram group, as well as other militant organizations, is indeed sad. So much so that I wonder the amount of money involved that some organizations and individuals would want to jeopardize the future of over 180 million people. And to think that these individuals are also Nigerians is emotionally drenching.

For how long Amnesty International and Sahara Reporters intend to sustain this tempo is left to be imagined. However, one thing is sure: Nigerians are now aware that Amnesty International and their counterpart in Sahara Reporters have indeed waged war against the soul of Nigeria.

Theirs is more deadly than the Boko Haram because the lives of over 180 million Nigerians are at risk. I think the government should do well to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from the evil plot of Amnesty International and Sahara Reporters.

The exigencies of time require proactive action else we might have ourselves to blame because, at the rate with which these organizations are going, Nigeria would be indeed lucky if they do not achieve their objectives at the end of the day. This piece should serve as a wakeup call to the relevant authorities, as well as to educate members of the unsuspecting general public on the plot by Amnesty International and Sahara Reporters against Nigeria.

Kolawole Ph.D. wrote this piece from Keffi, Nasarawa State

Navy Dismantles Crude Oil Theft Ring, Impounds Huge Amount of Crude, Boats in Niger-Delta

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Navy Dismantles Crude Oil Theft Ring, Impounds Huge Amount of Crude, Boats in Niger-Delta

The Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA under operation Delta Safe Area of responsibility, has recorded huge successes after conducting anti-illegal bunkering/Crude Oil Theft (COT) operations around Ugbodede, Uwakeno, Opumami, Banga Communities and around Escravos general area in Warri South LGA of Delta State leading to the recovery of several thousands of liters of stolen crude oil and smashing score of illegal refineries.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche while briefing newsmen on updates of operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria said, during the operations, the team located and dismantled illegal refining sites and a wooden boat with 3 coolers, 136 dugout pits, 201 surface metal storage tanks and 174 ovens laden with about 14,434 barrels of suspected stolen crude oil as well as 1,385,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

The storage facilities were dismantled. No arrest was made as operators of the illegal refining sites fled on sighting the team. Meanwhile, the illegal refining sites have been earmarked for swamp buggy operation.

Similarly, on 11 May 2020, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS intercepted 3 large wooden boats around Madangho and Sara Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State.

The boats were laden with about 12.6 barrels of suspected stolen crude oil and 43,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO. Equally, on 12 May 20, the team discovered 7 refining units, 13 metal storage tanks and 4 dugout pits with about 440.3 barrels of stolen crude oil and 180,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

The boats, items and products discovered in the course of the operation were impounded.

In the same vein, on 11 May 20, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team around Effiat Waterways intercepted an abandoned wooden boat laden with 310 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon. Similarly, on 14 May 20, the Base patrol team intercepted an abandoned medium size wooden boat laden with about 67 drums of products suspected to be PMS around Enwang Creek. The seized bags of foreign parboiled rice, boat and drums of suspected PMS are currently in Forward Operating Base IBAKA custody.

Nigerian Navy Arrests 10 Pirates, Recues 18 Chinese Vessel Crew Members

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Nigerian Navy Arrests 10 Pirates, Recues 18 Chinese Vessel Crew Members

The Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service has rescued 18 crew members of a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II which was attacked by pirates off the Coast of Cote d’ Ivoire.

Briefing journalists in Abuja, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche said, the pirates took control of the vessel and directed the vessel towards Nigerian Waters.

The vessel had 18 crew members comprising Chinese, Ghanaians and Ivorians.

“The Nigerian Navy was alerted of the pirate attack and immediately, the Nigerian Navy Ship NGURU was dispatched to intercept the vessel.

“On interception of the vessel at about 140 nautical miles south of Lagos Fairway Buoy, the pirates refused to comply to the orders of the Nigerian Navy Ship, hence the Nigerian Navy had to conduct an opposed boarding of the vessel.

“All the ship crew were safely rescued, while the 10 pirates were also arrested.” He said.

Three Terrorists Killed as Operation Lafiya Dole Troops On Patrol Encounter Eight Kilometers Ahead of Buni-Gari, Yobe State

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Three Terrorists Killed as Operation Lafiya Dole Troops On Patrol Encounter Eight Kilometers Ahead of Buni-Gari, Yobe State

Three terrorists have been killed while scores of insurgents escaped with various degrees of injuries as troops of Combat Team 1, Operation KANTANA JIMLAN on long range admin patrol along Buni Yadi – Buni Gari axis encountered multiple Improvised Explosive Devices and Boko Haram Terrorists’ ambush, eight kilometers ahead of Buni-Gari in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on the 18 of May 2020.

Sadly, two soldiers paid the supreme price as a result of the IED explosion.

Additionally, a recovery truck, one troops carrying vehicle and a water tanker that ran into the IED were destroyed by fire.

However, due to mental snap/distress occasioned by fog of war, two of the soldiers who escaped the IED and terrorists’ ambush recorded the incident with uncomplimentary remarks, about the Nigerian Army and her leadership, which was released on the social media.

Although this kind of outburst is expected in war, the soldiers involved have been identified and would undergo observation and counselling.

In a statement, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said the Armed Forces of Nigeria will remain unwavering in its quest to end the terrorism and will do everything possible to ensure there is no repeat of this kind of traumatic incident/outburst.

 

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